A tragic accident on Interstate 65 some time after 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, caused a Greenwood man to lose his life in a fire that consumed his pickup truck and trailer he was hauling.

Motorists traveling northbound on I-65 saw huge clouds of black smoke ahead of them, the first inkling of what had happened.

According to Indiana State Police, a southbound 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Natalie K. Bomar, 19, of Mt. Washington, Ky., went into the median near the 25 mile marker. Though the area is divided by a protective cable barrier fence, the Hyundai somehow got over it and continued into the northbound lanes.

Truck drivers who saw the accident said the SUV never appeared to slow as it traveled through the grassy median, Scottsburg police said. The SUV then struck the 2001 Ford F150 pickup that was hauling an enclosed trailer.

The force of the impact pushed the pickup and trailer toward the east berm of I-65. Then, the rig burst into flames.

Motorists, some of them Scott County residents, and truck drivers stopped and were able to pull out Sandra Godsave, 62, and her grandson, nine-year-old Andrew Godsave, both of Greenwood. The flames and heat were too intense, however, to save the driver, Dennis Godsave, also 62.

A few vehicles behind the scene, Chris Fugate, Scott County Deputy Coroner, was returning from an afternoon in Louisville with members of his family. He too pulled over and ran to the scene. Fugate pronounced Dennis Godsave dead at the scene.

Both Sandra Godsave and Bomar were transported by Scott County EMS south to University of Louisville Hospital. Andrew Godsave was transported by medical helicopter to Kosair Children’s Hospital, also in Louisville. Each had sustained serious injuries, advised Sgt. Jerry Goodin of the ISP Sellersburg post.

Motorists to the south of the accident scene came to a complete halt on the interstate as the rescue efforts and then the clean-up began. An ISP accident scene reconstructionist was called and had to travel from Harrison County before the wreckage could be cleared.

Some motorists got off at the Henryville exit, clogging U.S. Highway 31 northbound, as the wait extended to some 2 ½ hours. Traffic began to roll again as darkness fell, with vehicles being moved slowly through the crash location and then gaining normal speed.

Entities providing assistance at the scene included the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department and its First Responders, Scott County EMS and the Scott and Clark County Sheriffs’ Departments.

The remains of Dennis Godsave were expected to be taken north later this week, stated County Coroner Jerry Buchanan. Funeral arrangements for Godsave were incomplete as of Monday.